Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Teen held in slaying of neighborhood mom indicted in knife case

Erich Milton Nowsch Jr.

Steve Marcus

Erich Milton Nowsch Jr., 19, appears in court Monday, Feb. 23, 2015, at the Regional Justice Center. Nowsch is a suspect in the shooting of 44-year-old Tammy Meyers.

Erich Milton Nowsch Jr. and Derrick Andrews in Court

Erich Milton Nowsch Jr. listens to defense attorney Augustus Claus in court at the Regional Justice Center Thursday, March 26, 2015. Nowsch and co-defendant Derrick Andrews face charges related to the fatal Feb. 12 Launch slideshow »

A 19-year-old awaiting trial on murder and other charges in the shooting death of a Las Vegas mother of four was indicted Wednesday on felony allegations in a separate case alleging that he held a knife to the throat of a 13-year-old boy during a street confrontation between the slaying and his arrest.

The battery with a weapon and child abuse with a weapon charges against Erich Milton Nowsch Jr. allege that he threatened the boy Feb. 15. Police say the confrontation was witnessed by the victim's sister and two other girls.

The indictment sends the knife case to state court and makes moot a case filed earlier this month alleging battery with a weapon. Nowsch's arraignment is scheduled April 30. The two counts in the indictment could get Nowsch up to 16 years in prison if he's convicted.

His lawyer, Augustus Claus, declined immediate comment.

Nowsch is being held without bail at the Clark County jail pending a trial May 26 with accused accomplice Derrick Andrews, 26, in the Feb. 12 shooting in a residential cul-de-sac that killed 44-year-old Tammy Meyers.

Nowsch and Andrews have each pleaded not guilty to murder, attempted murder, firing a weapon from a vehicle and conspiracy charges that could get each life in prison.

Nowsch is accused of firing a handgun from a car with Andrews at the wheel, fatally wounding Meyers outside her home.

Police and Meyers family members first called the death a road-rage slaying. But authorities now say it appears to have resulted from a tragic chain of coincidences, including Tammy Meyers' belief that the car with Nowsch and Andrews in it was the same one driven by a man who threatened Meyers and her daughter earlier.

Nowsch, meanwhile, feared the people in the car driven by Tammy Meyers were following him and meant to do him harm, according to his statements to police.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy